My Dad, his heart

My father had his angiogram today.
Good news and bad news.
First the good news, it was about what my father thought and he seems to be the most positive of my mother and I, who were there.
The bad, he has 1 artery 90% clogged and from some special xray he has a weak heart.
They have to so a nuclear test to confirm their findings(in 2 or 3 weeks) and if they are correct they will put in a confibiler(excuse the spelling) to control the irregular heartbeat.
If it is a weak heart, then no operation to clean out the artery, it won't help the weakness and there is too much risk.
So when it is said and done, mild exercise, no drinking, weight loss and better living will be in order.
Not easy for anyone, but for a 68 year old stuck in his old ways.

Both my parents are still alive, so this news today makes me think that what I've always cared for and taken for granted that they always are there for me, will eventually not be.
Kind of scary and sad at the same time.
With my sister living in Boston, she obviously couldn't be there. My brother who lives close by(closer than me) doesn't even know about the test and my father's condition.
That's sad and he will regret it one dad. My uncle did the same thing and he still regrets it 30 years later. My bro and uncle are more alike than they both know.

A quick note on hockey. With my father in the hospital, they had this tube stuck in his groin and he explained to me how they did it.
I cringed!
I then told him about this guy who last year had cancer and was going through chemotherapy. He played pick up hockey with us during this time, he said he had nothing better to do.
yesterday he didn't show up because he tweaked his groin muscle. That's fine!
I find it funny that guys will protect that area over anything else on their bodies.
This fellow was picking off his fingernails and was bald and yet he has a small groin injury and he can't show up.
I'm not criticizing, but I find it funny.
Most guys are the same.

Hockey fight

As you may know, I play pickup hockey, early on Tuesday evenings. I've been doing this for 20 years or so now, so I think I've seen alot of different situations.
Tonight might be the the most weird of all.
After we finish there is a womens' league that plays after us. This just started this year so there is a few things that we as male hockey players have to get used to.
The main thing is to put a towel around yourself when walking to the shower. Tonight when I was doing this, this lady commented that I was lucky that I was wearing a towel. I told her that maybe she was lucky and then we laughed it off.
Anyway I'm finished showering and I'm upstairs in the bar having my beer.
This place you can watch the games and still be in the bar. I'm watching these ladies when a fight starts out on one of the benches.
This is odd, even in men's hockey.
Behind the bench it looks like they are beaking up 2 players. They were not! It was the lady who commented on my towel attacking her male coach.
They escorted him out and the palyers were high fiving each other and this particular lady was still playing.
They won!
I wonder what this coach did to start a revolt like this.

Anyways my game was as follows, the beer tasted great.

In-law weekend results

Quick post, Monday morning before work.
Was supposed to be ready by 8pm Saturday evening and I get home a 5pm with my wife freaking and bossy.
I basically told her to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone and I'll make a nice dinner, It'll take 15 or 20 minutes.
Viola, everything calm and a nice dinner for all.
Wedding was on the beach and was nice. All her siblings were there with spouses except for Montreal's pain in the butt, which was good.
Sil looked good and was organized for her but they forgot one thing, what to do with the kids after a certain time!
Not my problem, I have the eldest kid and he has never, ever been a burden at any age.
Wife asked me if we should transport the other kids 25 minutes east back home and then come back. I said watching her kids for the better part of a week was more than enough and the other kids were her siblings' problem. She agreed!
Anyway we were home by midnight and in the morning we heard about the problems everyone had putting their kids asleep and now were cranky.
Caring, not!
I thought it was a nice evening!
Sidebar; some guy had a heart attack on the beach and the new groom had to perform CPR about 15 minutes after the ceremony. Good for him and a cool story to tell for years to come. He had a shot of tequilla when he got back, to clean his mouth out. He doesn't really drink!

Saturday afternoon

Another hot day, but not as smoggy and less humidity.
I was reading the paper this morning on the front porch and over heard that my neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. Peckerhead are moving to a condo in downtown Toronto. I feel for their neighbours!
Anyways, they were moving today, her bro and friend with borrowed 5 ton truck and guess what Mr. Peckerhead was doing? Yea. cutting the friggin grass at 8:30am, while his help were moving chesterfields, dressers and light stuff like that. Anyone associated with him I feel for, honestly.

Sil gets married this evening and things are starting to get "hairy" around here. Well not for me, I just have to do some laundry and iron some stuff later, before her kids come over. I told the wife I wasn't watching the kids, there is plenty of other aunts, uncles and grandmothers around to do that. Plus once sil's kids get all dressed up, I don't responsibilty for them getting all dirty.

A quick explanation about marriage therapy.
My wife and I get along fine. We don't argue much and agree on child rearing, financial and other important stuff.
Our problems are in the bedroom, one way or another.
She has been unfaithfull in the past and has gone to a shrink to figure things out.
She has a disorder that has her on meds and under her shrinks care. Everything for her personally is going pretty well.
I feel that she doesn't take the same care when it comes to me and our marriage. This is how I feel and have for a number of years.
She asked me recently if I was happy, and I explained to her the same I did here,only more in detail.
Instead of it being all about her, like I feelit almost always does, I made it about me.
So going to a therapist is the next step for us. She needs it for us and for her. I don't expect much because my wife gets in the same routine it's hard to get her out. Why would she change now?
I hope I'm wrong!

Two nights in a row, could this be a trend of the future.
Friday evening, hot summer night and what are people talking about?
Hockey!
Figures, it is Canada.

My wife and I are going to marriage therapy starting in a few weeks. We're going to see her doctor, which I'm happy because it won't be all about her.
We tried this before and went to therapists who didn't know us and they have to ask questions. Then it turns to out to be an hour about her and nothing about me. I find it frustrating!
Funny, I find it's the same thing with golf lessons, 55 minutes for her and the remaining 5 for me.(I'm quite abit more advanced)
Anyways, the majority of our problems stem from her and not me.(we both agree on that point)
I'd like to get these things worked out, it's been along time.

My Father has his angiogram next week and my Mother isn't staying with us. They got a discount from the hospital and she is staying at a hotel in Downtown Toronto. She was alittle nervous driving to our place in the suburbs so I will go visit her from work Wednesday and keep her company for a couple hours. Oh, and I'll visit my dad as well!
I'll be glad when they do this procedure, just to find out what is wrong and then try to fix it.

SIL gets married tomorrow. Their honeymoon was cancelled because their hotel in Mexico was damaged. They are going to Cuba instead.
So this weekend is going to be all in-laws everywhere. Yea.......
It will tough trying to hide at all.

No one is home

Got home at 7pm, entered the house and yelled "hello" and no answer. Car is at the front so they must be at her sister's house down the street.
I like the quiet right now. A note would have been nice, but that's alright.

Since most of my fellow bloggers are female, maybe you can help me with this question. I figured after all these years, maybe I would have the answers but....
How is it when a lady gets all dressed up and a guy looks at her(not drooling, but a glance) this guy gets labelled a pig? After all, why is it that a lady would get dressed up in the first place? If I'm going to get all "impressive" it usually is because of the social situation, but I still like to get noticed, even being married for a thousand years or so. Just curious!
I just can't figure women out! Doubt I ever will.

It still is hot as hell here! 6 weeks of record hot weather is draining me.
Whatever happen to 75 and no humidity. Alittle rain wouldn't hurt as well.
I find with this weather, I'm worn right out by the end of the week.
Sounds like I'm getting old!

Control situation

Sunday afternoon, kind of rainy out and most chores are done.
Finished cooking lunch for family and before that, served tea and cookies to the in-laws who popped in unannounced.
I do alot around this freaking house, more than 50%.
Anyway, I tell my wife I'm going to the store for some fine gravel(for re-leveling patio stones) and the grocers for a few items.
She tells me I can't, or I shouldn't!
Excuse me!
Why on earth do you have a problem with me going to the store?
You can't control everything in your life, so don't try.
I tell you in a few years when the kid is a teenager, someone will have a real tough time letting go. It won't be me!
I'm going go to the store now, someone has to deal with it.

I'll try again

I hit the wrong button and 20 minutes worth of blogging gone.
Oh well! I'll try again this morning.

Last evening my son and wife went to the Harry Potter events at the local Chapters and then got his book by 12:05am. He is reading it right now on the couch since 8am and it is now 10:30am.
He has to stop soon to get active for a few hours before it gets too hot.

Speaking of heat, it has been hot for about 5 weeks now. Records heat in the 30s(90 and up in the old system) and little rain.
Our town has a water restriction(voluntarily) but our neighbour, Mr. Peckerhead continues to water his lawn and our furniture on our front porch. If he does it today, I'm going to aim it directly at his front door.
They sold their house and I hope the closing date isn't too far in the future.
They "fudged" the statistics on their house to get more than it is worth. I know people embellish to get what they are looking for, but to lie about the size of the house.
Good-bye Mr. and Mrs. Peckerhead!

I'm going to watch The British Open, so I'll see you in a while!

Cooking

I was reading Steffers blog(I should put blog addresses up on my blog, eventually I will) about cooking and I thought I would give some thoughts regarding to it.
I can cook and quite well!
I'm better than my wife, everyone in my family and also my wife's family. Actually I'm better than most of my friends as well!
Why? I like to do it.
When I was 15 or so, my parents used t0 go away without us kids quite abit. My mother would make extra dinners and freeze them, like a homemade tv dinner.(they weren't too bad)
My problem was that we always had a half side of pork and beef in the freezer and it potentially tasted better. We had a family business which was food processing, heavy on the veggies.
One time when my parents went away, I got my Mom to show me how to cook some chops and veggies.
I watched my Dad bbq.
I then started to do this myself.
All trial and error.(that line for you Steffers)
After a while, friends wanted to come over early for the no parent parties as I would cook something up.
A hunting buddy then started to bring over venison and bear roasts and I would cook them.
Camping would become a feast as well as an outdoor party.
I worked in my family's business for 6 years after high school, when financial problems took these businesses down. I decided to go to college.
I took a food management course for two years.
Lots of business courses and lots of chef classes.
I was lousy at baking, but pretty decent at everything else. I was lucky that my cooking partner Jackie was an excellent baker and we were a good team.
Actually I don't mind to this day that I'm an average baker, I would be really fat otherwise.
I lasted a few years in the food business after college, but got out, the hours really sucked, as did the pay.
I now cook almost all meals when home.
On Sundays I cook two dinners so my wife doesn't have to cook anything the next couple days.
My problem now is time.
Mind you I did skip dinner tonight, nothing made.

Right!

Just finish talking to the wife and asked her about snooping on my e-mails. She denied which makes me think that she must think I'm stupid.
Well, I'm not honey!

Just winding up my holidays and it has been nice. The kid and I went up to my parents for three days and had a nice visit. Checked out the local area and saw a couple of movies. They were "Batman Begins," which was very good and "War Of The Worlds," which was just okay.
Yesterday the whole family went to the zoo, which I enjoy, but damn that was alot of walking.
In a few minutes I'm taking the kid and his friend to the indoor swimming pool where there is a water slide. We're also supposed to get a thunder storm later, the remnants of a storm called Cindy. Thunder storms are always a good reason to swim inside.
My kid's buddy is a son of my long time friend.(around 30 years) This kid is very sullen, kind of mopes around which is the opposite of my kid. His mother gives him the option of doing sports or not and he chooses not to, which at 11 years old I think is wrong.
I think that if a kid excels at sports and not school, then you balance it out with academic options, like tutors or extra work.
The same goes with if you are good at school and not sports, then you balance it out for them. My kid hates sports, but fully understands why we put him in activities.

Well I'm at the library finishing this blog. The pool is in the same building and I can get this done without my wife breathing done my neck.
She complains about the time she can't spend on her job, you know getting the kid ready in the morning and meeting him after school. For the most part I understand, but this morning I questioned her.
I was looking for her and I couldn't find her in the house. She was talking to her friend that I don't like.
I said if your time management needs improving then personal calls can wait. She got pissed, saying that we got along well yesterday and now I bring this up.(trying to change the subject)
This lady now works for her competitor(they used to work together) and I think time can be better spent not talking to her during business hours.
Well, she does what she wants and that includes not listening to me.

I'll give some reasons for my dislike of this person.
Number one is the fact she does sales and the 5 or 6 years she has known my wife she still can't look me in the eye and have a conversation. Doing sales must be tough if you can't talk. I'm not joking, we have never had a conversation, and I've tried. Think what you like about these blogs, you have to admit, I can talk. I can listen as well!
Two, I think she is sneaky. My wife used to go out on Thursdays alot for drinks with this person. She used to change clothes at her place after getting ready at our place. Her choice of clothes are not what I would agree to. I know this was my wife doing it, but most true friends would have said something.(and no, I'm not controlling)
Thirdly, arranging for her then boyfriend to bring guys along to meet up with my wife. Again I know my wife is an adult, but true friends.......
Dance lessons together until I said I want to join. Damn they lost interest in a hurry.
To many graphic details of my wife's sex life, again a true friend might have to say that she has a spouse.
The one that bugs me the most, is when we are at the same social situation she whispers in my wife's ear. Rude, rude, rude........
One time we had a milestone birthday party for my wife at a club/bar. All our friends were there and this person was with her boyfriend. She and her boyfriend ignored our friends all night, and my friends are really easy to talk to. This was weeks after she saw the same crowd at one of our parties, which she ignored everyone as well.
This year we had another party and she didn't show up, no phone call or apology. Boyfriend problems and did she want to go out drinks at a later date.
I could go on but I think you get it.

Anyways off to watch these guys swim!

Life8

We were out all day and I caught the replay on tv here.
Over all I thought there were some pretty good performances, like Pink Floyd in London.
I thought Paul McCartney should have carried right on with the Seargent Pepper song with U2 but he only did the one song with them.
Joss Stone is a firecracker for a teenager!
Annie Lennox can still belt out a tune.
Will Smith acts better than he sings.
Elton John can sing but I have trouble looking at him, it's the rug thing.
Bryan Adams bores me.
Bare Naked Ladies can work an audience.
Neil Young has to be my favourite songwriter.
Canada has alot of great artist like Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Randy Bachman, Sam Roberts, Gordon Lightfoot, Jann Arden and Sarah McLaughlin.
I'm suprised Madonnna can still work an audience and for someone who apparently has no talent, she has been around for 20 years.
One last thing about the Canadian concert. The reason it wasn't held in Toronto was the two largest venuse were taken up. The Skydome(Rogers Centre) is home to the AA convention and the Downsview sight is the temporary home to an automakers overflow.
Anyways, I guess all for a good cause. I just have trouble with a 2nd rate musician from another country trying to bully our Prime Minister around.
What happen to all that money raised 20 years ago!
I guess all the dictators are living off that money.
Poverty is a shame but the one of the reason it is so rampant in Africa is from all the heads of State who are crooked henchmen.
Enough of the politics!

Today we went to a Highland festival in Cobourg, Ontario. Seeing all things Scottish was cool since I'm from that background(along with English) and I named my son with the most Scottish name ever.
Watching the strong men toss the polls around was impressive.
Then we went to the beach area and wondered around. It is a really nice town and I could see myself retiring there in a couple decades.
It is right on the shore of Lake Ontario and is just far away from the big city to get the small town flavour but not to be to far from civilization.

I don't mention this often but I'm really into genealogy. In the last year I haven't done much because I'm at the point where I have to go into the research centre, not just get information off the computer or the local library. Basically I have to get off my duff and get searching elsewhere.
Seeing all the Scottish clans today and Cobourg being the port in Ontario where the immigrants first arrived in the 18th century, got me thinking about this again.
By the way, both my grandmothers come from Scottish families!

Canada Day

Today was the 138th birthday of Canada.
Here in this country we don't celebrate like the Americans do, we're alittle more reserved, but we are stilll a very proud nation.
I received a phone call from a friend saying he was going down early to Rotary Park to save a picnic spot and put his bbq there. He invited my family there for a outdoor lunch.
They had lot's of red and white at this park and tons of stuff for the kids to do. It had too many people there and lot's of long line ups but that's alright when your with friends.
Then we went to another friends for drinks and dinner.
After that fireworks in our neighbourhood.
All in all, a good day and a nice way to start my holidays.

I found out my sil and her boyfriend are going to Mexico for 2 weeks in late July without their 3 kids. They are getting married!
I personally think it is too long without kids and too expensive for someone who is having financial problems. But that is just me and certainly no in laws have ever listen to me.
Did I mention my wife is looking after them for 4 days, at their house?
I sincerely wish them the best!

We're starting to plan a winter vacation soon. The deal we get is where kids 12 and under are free and have to be booked sometime in the next few weeks.(in August sometime) I want to go to Costa Rica but I also want to go for 2 weeks and I don't know if I can afford that.
We'll probably end up in Mexico sometime in February, hopefully for 2 weeks.